Chapter 2 - The Rogue

Amara POV

“Switch mates?” The words exit my mouth as my mind plays catch up.

“As a member of this family I expect this from you!” Father demands out, my mind still unable to

comprehend what is happening.

“I don’t understand…”

“Your blood, it has changed Catherine’s scent. The rogue here dares to believe that he is mated

to her. An alpha born mated to a rogue…I can’t let this get out. It would ruin the pack’s

reputation. ”

My head turns, the roaring fire barely audible over Catherine’s sobs. She remains clutched to my

stepmother’s side, unable to meet my eyes. Stepmother’s eyes have no fear in meeting mine,

her chin tilts up…daring me to defy not only the alpha but also the luna.

“You will exchange! As my eldest, I expect this from you…we expect this from you.” Expect this

from me…how could he expect this from me. Expect me to give up my mate, what is mine.

Finally, he was acknowledging me as the eldest, only to take away the one thing that was meant

to be untarnished, untouched. My own mate.

The rogue scoffs next to me, his glare heating my neck before I meet his eyes. Hatred glares

back at me, in what world did a rogue…that I saved…have the right to loathe me so much.

Was it not enough that I gave her my own blood, that my blood runs through her veins even now.

That she was to be named the next alpha.

My birth right gone.

Any memory of my mother gone.

I was ready to be erased as was my mother; I was ready to remain here, to accept my fate…I

found a way to endure this pack. To remain the outcast because I had Jason. But now she wants

to take that from me too.

“No!” I lowly growl out, my hands clenching by the side. The pain from my wrist shoots up my

arm, the repeatedly reopened wound serving as a reminder that they have already taken too

much from me.

“Excuse me?”

“I said no.”

“No?” Father roars at me, his shoulders curling over as he adopts a predatory stance.

“Father, I’ve been willing to follow your orders, to sacrifice what I can for the sake of the pack.

But, Jason, I cannot give up Jason.” I will not, he’s the only innocent untainted part of my life.

Everything I had done at Father’s request was to protect my bond with Jason. It would be

unthinkable for me to give him up, he’s the only reason I haven’t given up. He is the only good

thing in my life that makes it worth living.

Oddly, the rogue takes a sidestep towards me, his eyes focused solely on Father who looks as if

I had punched him in the chest. It is the first time since I was 14 years old, that I have defied

him. Refused his request.

I’m waiting for the onslaught, my breathe caught in the back of my throat as I prepare for not

only verbal but physical repercussions.

“Very well…” Stepmother’s voice comes sweetly behind me.

“You cannot force her Harald; we will think of another way. It’s not as if the other alphas will

mock Catherine…they know she has more to prove than anyone.” Her words are meant to sound

sweet, supportive.

But I can hear the manipulation within them, the controlling approach that Father continues to

fall for. Is this what some fated mates do for one another. I refuse to let Jason and I be like them.

“If any one dare mock our daughter, the future alpha of the Mystic Hallows pack, I would fight

them to the death. If that is what she wants…for harm to fall upon me.” My head spins at my

stepmother’s words. I never said such a thing, it never crossed my mind.

“Harm? Is that what you want…for your mother to be injured…even killed?”

“I didn’t say that..” I utter out, my previous words being twisted.

“But that’s what will happen. It’s not up for negotiation…you will accept this. You are dismissed.”

His domineering voice echoes off the office walls, his decision made.

“Father please.” I take a step forward towards him, my hands clasping together in a praying

gesture.

“You are dismissed!” He roars at me with such ferocious venom that is knocks me back, the full

weight of his aura behind his command. I have no choice but to leave, my neck turning into a

silent submission.

It’s sacred, the mate bond is sacred. He cannot force me or Jason to give one another up. Why

can’t Catherine just reject the rogue and find a new mate, a chosen mate.

Why do I need to be involved. Why would she want to trade me for Jason…as much as I love him,

he was only a barman.

He trained with the warriors, but he hadn’t ever risen through the ranks, he kept to guard patrol

on the borders. That’s what I loved about him. He wasn’t ambitious, he was pure, kind…she

wouldn’t want him…surely.

Even if they demanded it, he wouldn’t give in. He loved me too much; he would fight for me.

I couldn’t sleep, my mind was spiralling out of control. I needed to find Jason at the break of

dawn, I needed to see him, to warn him. I knew he would be heading to the borders for the

morning shift.

I had been watching the clock all night, unable to reach him through the mind link which was

common for pack members sleeping. As soon as the clock hit 5am, I jump out of bed, reaching

for my door handle…only to find Catherine staring back at me.

“Where are you going?” She asks, her body resting against the wall as she types away on her

mobile phone. Not even glancing up at me.

“I..”

“Going to find Jason?” She moves off the wall, finally pocketing her phone in her dressing gown

and looking up at me. Was it that obvious where I was going.

“He’s not at the borders this morning. Besides, you can’t possibly think he would go against his

own alpha for you? Make his entire family hated within this pack…outcast them?”

“I don’t expect you to understand what we have with one another.” My jaw tenses as I choose my

words wisely, biting down on my tongue to not say what I really want. I just need to find him, to

warn him.

I walk past her, not willing to fall for her games.

“I doubt its anything compared to what we have… ” Her words stop me dead.

An ominous sensation hitting me, making it hard to breathe. What did she mean by that.

Lies, more lies I try to calm myself. Not rise to the bait.

“What do you mean?” I turn, pretending to not give a damn.

“Really, are you that naïve?” She coldly smirks out, her fingers moving back into her pocket as

she pulls out her phone.

“Now I really don’t want to show you…it would be too cruel.”

“Show me what?” I seethe out, anger starting to rise within me. What was she insinuating.

“Oops, I’ve already said too much.” She sarcastically places a hand to her mouth, pretending to

have said something she didn’t mean.

“No…you’re lying.”

“I’ll tell you what, come to my room at 7am…you’ll see why Jason isn’t on border patrol this

morning.” She moves past me, her hand stroking across the tip of my shoulder.

“What have you done?” I flinch away from her as she moves back towards her room.

“Nothing that you didn’t bring on yourself. Do you really think you are in control of your own life

sis?”